Valve.



L.'B. FULTON.

VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-18. 1915.

1,228,104. Patented May 29, 1917.

UNITED STATES PATEN ornicn.

LOUIS B. FULTON, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE CHAPLIN- FULTON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A

VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 29, 1917.

Application filed August 18, 1915. Serial No. 46,157.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Louis B. FULTON, of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valves; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved simple and highly efficient valve which will be operated automatically by pressure from the inlet side aided by pressure on the outlet side of the valve, thereby enabling water in an elevated tank to be kept at a practically constant level.

A further object is to control the movement of a valve of the character stated by a diaphragm which is in balance while the tank is being filled, and which requires comparatively little pressure to effect the seating of the valve, rendering the latter easy of operation. 7

And a further object is to provide a relief attachment which will prevent undue pressure on the diaphragm.

In'the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view. Fig. 2 shows a modified form of relief attachment.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a valve casing; 2 the inlet; 3 the outlet or discharge; and 4 a diaphragm to which the stem 5 of the main valve 6 is connected. I have shown a double valve, that is to say, one having two disks, "of different area, controlling two ports, but a single disk might be used. That portion of easing 1 above dia phragm 4 forms a chamber 7 which is connected to the inlet side of the casing by a by-pass 8 which I have shown equipped with a strainer 9. The diaphragm 4 constitutes the bottom of chamber 7. The underside of the diaphragm is subject to the action of the pressure on the outlet side of the casing,

which latter in practice is connected to anoverhead tank or reservoir. The casing is formed with comparatively wide free space beneath diaphragm 4 and an uninterrupted connection between said space and the outlet so that under all conditions full pressure of the water on the outlet side of the valve may be exerted against the underside of the diaphragm. The chamber 7 is connected.

11 which latter is in communication with the outlet side of the casing through a by-pass 12. lVithin chamber 11 is a second diaphragm 13 to which is connected a valve 14 for controlling the passageway between chambers 7 and 11 through port 10. Any desired pressure may be applied to normally hold valve 14 from its seat, the means shown for this purpose consisting of an adjustable spring 15. i

For compensating for overpressure in the chamber 7 which would be detrimental to the diaphragm 4 I provide a relief port 16 communicating with the by-pass 12. In Fig. 1 .I. have shown this port as opening into a nipple 16" controlled by a manually operated needle valve 17. In Fig. 2 Ihave shown a modified form of relief port, a valve 18 being employed instead of the nipple and unseating against the tension of a spring19.

In practice, when valve 6 is unseated valve 14 is likewise unseated, and there is a constant flow of Water not only through the porter ports controlled by valve 6 but also through the by-passes 8 and 12 and the communicating chambers 7 and 11. The diaphragm 4 is in balance while the two valves are unseated, and it remains in balance while the tank is being filled. When the desired quantity of water has been secured in the tank the pressure on the outlet side acting through by-pass 12 will effect the seating of valve 14, causing the pressure of the water in chamber 7, derived through by-pass 8, to build up sufliciently to effect the seating of the main valve 6. But little pressure is required for this purpose owing to the practically even balance of the diaphragm; Excesssive pressure may exist in chamber 7. This will be carried out through port 16 governed as shown in either the preferred or modified forms. As soon as the pressure on the outlet side is lowered, (by the demands on the tank) valve 14 will be automatically unseated, restablishing the passage of the water through the by-passes, and the diaphragm 4 being again thrown in balance the pressure of the water on the main diaphragm controlliii the main valve in a practically constant balance the operation of the valve is easily effected.

I claim as my invention:

.1. A valve for maintaining a practically constant level of water in an elevated tank, comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet being designed to be connect ed to an overhead tank, a main valve within said casing, a normally balanced diaphragm to which said main valve is connected, said casing having a comparatively wide space beneath said diaphragm communicating with the outlet, whereby the diaphragm will con 'stantly be subjected on its underside to the water pressure on the outlet side of the valve, a chamber above said diaphragm, Which latter forms the bottom of such chamber, a by-pass connectin the inlet side of the casing with said cham er, a second chamber above the -first mentioned chamber communicating therewith, a valve for controlling such communication, a diaphragm in said second chamber for actuating said valve, a by-pass connecting said second chamber with the outlet of the casing, and a relief port between said first mentioned chamber and said outlet.

2. A valve for maintaining a practically constant level of water in an elevated tank,

iaaaa oa comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet the outlet being designed to be connected to an overhead tank, a main valve .within said casing, a normally balanced diato the water pressure on the outlet side of the valve, a chamber above said diaphragm, which latter forms the bottom of such chamber, a by-pass connecting the inlet side of the casing with said chamber, a second chamber above the first mentioned chamber communicating therewith, a valve for controlling such communication, a diaphragm in said second chamber for actuating said valve, a by-pass connecting said second chamber with the outlet of the casing, and a relief port between said first mentioned chamber and said outlet and a valve controlling said relief port.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS B. FULTON.

Witnesses:

JOHN F. SWEENY,

W. C. CHAPLIN. 

